Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ruling by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 17 December into the actions of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Metropolitan Police regarding the investigation of journalists in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has noted the detailed Investigatory Powers Tribunal judgment in this case. The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has already accepted the Tribunal’s judgment that due consideration was not given to whether there was an overriding public interest in interfering with journalistic sources before authorising surveillance. And although officers complied with UK law and procedure at the time, a 2013 authorisation for communications data was a breach of the PSNI’s human rights obligations. The Tribunal dismissed the complaint that the police had unlawfully obtained information and communications data by non-statutory means.
The Chief Constable has stated that he will take time to consider and reflect on the judgment and along with the findings of the McCullough Review, to consider what further steps the PSNI can take. The McCullough Review is an independent review of PSNI use of surveillance against sensitive professions. The Northern Ireland Policing Board has asked for the McCullough Report to be provided by 31 March 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the ruling by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 17 December, what assessment they have made of the current levels of surveillance by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Metropolitan Police into journalists, politicians and others in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are a number of robust legal protections afforded to sensitive professions. These include Articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
There have been significant changes made since the actions investigated by the Tribunal occurred, including the implementation of the Investigatory Powers Act (2016) in 2018. Oversight of the use of investigatory powers is provided by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office who ensure that their use is necessary and proportionate, and in accordance with the law.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has asked the Chief Constable for the McCullough Report, an independent review of PSNI use of surveillance against sensitive professions, to be provided by 31 March 2025.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question 12917 on InterTrade UK, when he plans to announce the (a) remaining membership appointees and (b) first and subsequent meetings of InterTrade UK.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Preparatory work necessary to establish Intertrade UK is ongoing. I expect to be in a position to announce the membership of the body and the date of the first meeting at the earliest opportunity in the New Year.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on trends in the level of teachers pay in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
It is for the Northern Ireland Department of Education to set pay policy for teachers.
This Government has provided a record £18.2bn funding settlement for 2025-26 to the Northern Ireland Executive. This represents a £1.5bn increase and the largest settlement in real terms spending in the history of devolution. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to use this money effectively and deliver good public services for the people of Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the High Court in Northern Ireland that a public inquiry must be established into the murder of Sean Brown in 1997.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.
The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.
The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.
This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the implications of the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland that the Government must hold a public inquiry into the death of Sean Brown in 1997 for other such inquiries, particularly in light of the Government's decision not to establish an inquiry into the Patrick Finucane case.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.
The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.
The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.
This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost implications of the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland that the Government must establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder of Sean Brown.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.
The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.
The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.
This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to appeal the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland that the Government must establish a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown in 1997.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.
The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.
The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.
This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.